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Only sports reporters were permitted into Tuesday's media event at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast

Ulster Rugby has been criticised by the National Union of Journalists for not allowing news journalists to attend a club press conference.

Only sports reporters were permitted into Tuesday's media event at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

It has traditionally been open to all media.

The Press Association said Ulster Rugby employed the same policy the previous week.

In a statement, the club said: "Ulster Rugby is contractually obliged by tournament organisers to deliver a match-week press conference that provides sports journalists with an opportunity to interview a coach and players regarding that week's fixture.